Brooke Elizabeth Kidder

Brooke Elizabeth Kidder, 32, passed away in Baton Rouge, LA on August 7, 2025, surrounded by family and friends. Brooke was a radiant, self-assured force who moved through the world in full color. She connected quickly and deeply with people. It did not take long for an acquaintance to become a friend, and even if you only spent a short time with her, you would come away with a special memory of that time together. Brooke had a way of spotting the marginalized, drawing them in, and giving them a place to belong. She found beauty in unexpected places and meaning in the smallest details, and she shared those discoveries with people she loved. Brooke was a voracious reader with an endless curiosity for the world and a deep love of words that fueled her writing passion. A dynamic storyteller, her wit, humor, and poignancy were unrivaled. Music was another constant in her life. She enjoyed singing and performing in her school years and carried that love with her into her adult life, attending concerts and music festivals and frequently sharing her favorite artists and songs with friends and family. Brooke had a passion for travel; from spontaneous road trips to adventures in Europe in recent years. Known for her flair and fun nature, Brooke was fully in her element at themed parties and events, always ready for any excuse to dress up in bold, dramatic fashion. Brooke's heart was wide open. She inspired everyone around her at every stage of her life: her formative years at Fatima, where her lifelong love of learning was ignited, her drama-filled high school days expressing her feelings through writing, singing in the choir, dancing at Delarue Dance Centre, and connecting with friends through her many fandoms, her college days at UL and UNO spent honing her communication and community-building skills and making memories with her Zeta Tau Alpha sisters, her time at UNO's graduate school completing her Master of Arts in Arts Administration, and her internship at the New Orleans Jazz Museum, where she worked as the Volunteers Coordinator. In recent years, Brooke developed a deeper appreciation for community, family, and tradition. Her work as a Digital Marketing Strategist for the Louisiana Department of Tourism instilled in her a strong belief in the importance of building and bettering any place you call home. At the same time, her relationship and marriage brought new meaning to connection, belonging, and shared celebration. It was an honor to watch the greatest love of Brooke's life unfold with her dear husband Nick. Their love brought her peace, direction, comfort, and purpose. Their connection was instantaneous. Brooke was already talking about marriage by their second date. They simply were best friends. Together, they were building a life that centered around the love that they shared with their family. They were so excited about their future plans, envisioning their home as a place to host weekly family dinners and open to anyone in their lives that needed a place to stay for a day, a week, or the foreseeable future. The most recent addition of Henrietta the porch goose made Brooke giddy, thinking up all kinds of ways to dress her with each holiday. Brooke lived vividly and without regret, embracing adventure and any uncertainty life would throw at her. In the last few years of her life, Brooke lived with chronic autoimmune-related symptoms that defied clear diagnosis and left her with more questions than answers. Despite living in near-daily pain, Brooke faced her illness as she did everything else with courage, and without losing the joy that was so much a part of her.
Brooke is survived by her husband, Nick Kelly; parents, Todd and Bonnie; siblings, Kimberly (Ross), Brady (Emily), and Collin; nieces, Lena and Hazel; grandmother, Lou Kidder, and very special family members, Renee, Leah, Dionne, Travis, John, Kristie, Carlie, Will, Tatum, Destiny, Cody, Mitchell, Gabrielle, Hannah, Malia, Austin, Jacob, Kova, Logan, Faith, Melanie, Lyla, and Bennett. Brooke also was survived by Nick's family members: his father, David and his step-mother, Amy; his mother, Judy and his step-father, Andre and his extended family members, Christian, Foster, Zayn, Hannah, Aubrey, Madelyn, Pat, Kristy, Addyson, and Peyton. Finally, Brooke was blessed with an abundance of friends who will miss her. Three of those friends, Lauren, Megan, and Alex have become like sisters to Brooke, and have gone above and beyond in their help and support during this difficult time. Brooke was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Abdon and Alice Boulet, and her paternal grandfather, Harris Kidder. We invite you to wear pink, Brooke's favorite color, or any other bright and colorful ensembles to celebrate the vivid way Brooke lived her life. Visitation will be observed at Fountain Memorial Funeral Home in Lafayette, LA on Friday, August 15, 2025, from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm, with a Celebration of Life at 6:00 pm. A Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, August 16, 2025, at 1:00 pm at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Lafayette, LA. Inurnment will follow in Lafayette Memorial Park Cemetery and Mausoleum in Lafayette, LA. Online obituary and guest book may be viewed at www.fountainmemorialfuneralhome.com.
Fountain Memorial Funeral Home and Cemetery, 1010 Pandora St. 337-981-7098 is in charge of arrangements.